Chiropractor vs physical therapy: Which should you choose?

The short answer to this question is that often, both options should be used together. After all, both chiropractors and physical therapists are experienced at dealing with back pain and other issues. 

There are similarities and differences between these two types of care. It’s important that you understand some of these before deciding on your treatment. Also, physical therapists have lots of experience working with other medical professionals. This means that having a treatment program that includes physical therapy and chiropractic care can be more beneficial for you. 

What’s the difference between seeing a chiropractor vs. a physical therapy specialist?

There are many similarities between chiropractors and physical therapy specialists. They’re both well versed in the human musculoskeletal system. Both of these professionals are committed to helping you reduce your pain, and they’re both licensed to practice. 

However, there are some differences between these two health care specialists. A few of these differences include: 

1. Physical therapists are trained to consider the entire body during treatment. Chiropractors are mainly trained to focus on the spine. 

2. Chiropractors typically require specialized spaces and equipment to address issues. Physical therapists can work in almost any environment.

3. The main goal of chiropractors is to reduce pain and spinal misalignment. Physical therapists tend to make addressing the underlying causes of these issues their primary goal. 

How can a combination of chiropractic care and physical therapy benefit you?

While both chiropractic care and physical therapy can offer benefits for patients in pain, the most effective option for dealing with spinal issues could be combining these two disciplines. 

Such a combination can offer the following benefits: 

• Chiropractic care can realign your spine to help reduce current pain.
• Physical therapists can strengthen weak muscles to better support the spine. 
• Both specialists can show you techniques to improve your posture. 
• Combined care can reduce your pain and prevent it from recurring. 

Advent Physical Therapy can work with other medical professionals to address your pain

At Advent Physical Therapy, our team is experienced at working with many other medical professionals. By combining our efforts with chiropractors, primary care doctors and other medical professionals, we can help you find the most effective pain relief. 

Our team will start by performing a complimentary screening to pinpoint the root cause of your pain. Then, our specialists will develop a personalized physical therapy plan for you that can include: 

• Manual therapy
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
• Dry needling
• At-home care
• Virtual therapy

Contact our team today for more information about how we can assist you or to schedule an initial appointment.